2002 Acura TL Type-S

There's no substitute for solid engineering, but a bit of added flash never hurts when it comes to enhancing market appeal. That fact was not lost on Acura, which endowed the TL sedan with a tasteful freshening for 2002. In its first mini-makeover since being introduced in 1999, the TL gains a bolder front end with stronger grille and lamp treatments plus tidied-up taillights. That welcome visual boost aside, it's the hot, new Type-S variant that really makes this midsize, entry-lux 4-door come alive.

The 2002 TL Type-S is bolder yet still tasteful. Taillights are smoother than the previous model's, and 17-inch tires/wheels are standard on the Type-S package.

Don't go looking for any wild pasted-on fender flares or whale-tail spoilers here. The sole exterior visual cues are bigger 17-inch alloy wheels mounting 215/50VR17 Michelin Pilot HX MXM4 tires in place of the 205/60VR16s found on the baseline TL. It's what's lurking underneath which counts the most, and there the Type-S most assuredly lives up to its promise.


Central to the mix is a 260-horsepower version of the TL's standard 3.2-liter SOHC VTEC V-6. In addition to 35 additional ponies, the Type-S engine also gains another 32 lb.-ft. of torque, bringing its total to 232 in that equally critical department. Credit for the added muscle goes to a host of tweaks, not the least of which are a dual-stage intake system, freer-flowing exhaust plumbing, larger throttle body, lighter valves and a more aggressive camshaft profile. The changes bump redline from 6,300 to 6,900 rpm while bolstering the engine's mid-range punch. Where the base TL V-6 makes its maximum torque at 4,700 revs, the Type-S variant hits and holds its top twist figure from 3,500 to 5,500 with the power peaking at a slightly loftier 6,100 rpm.

In the Type-S version of the TL, the transverse-mounted 3.2L V-6 produces 35 more hp and 32 additional lb.-ft. of torque over the standard model.

Like the standard TL, the new Type-S has motive force shipped to its front wheels via a 5-speed automatic transmission. In this case, the gearbox is fitted with Acura's Sequential SportShift feature that permits quick up/down changes at the push/pull of the gear lever. Unlike the base model, the Type-S adds a driver-selectable stability system to its equipment lineup as an adjunct to the existing traction-control package. In addition to making it commendably quick out of the blocks—0-60 mph comes up in less than 6.5 seconds—that drivetrain combination seamlessly interfaces with an equally well-sorted upgrade to its fully independent underpinnings.


The Type-S chassis revamp starts with a tauter basic tuning of its double-wishbone/multilink suspension (stiffer springs/shocks plus a larger-diameter rear anti-roll bar) and finishes with the aforementioned plus-one wheel/tire fitment. This yields a very livable combination of control and compliance. Driven in a moderately aggressive mode, the car tracks crisply and cleanly through sweeping corners while more than holding its own as the twisties tighten. Press more insistently toward the absolute limits and the Type-S does reveal some characteristic front-drive push. However, judicious use of trailing throttle will rotate the tail in a fairly predictable manner, which allows the Type-S to smoothly transition into a controlled drift. If you do happen to overcook the corner, a quick stab of the brakes generally brings things back into line. That confidence-building trait comes courtesy of well-modulated, ABS-abetted 4-wheel disc brakes working with the Vehicle Stability Assist package.